Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greetings Everyone.

One very sad note...I got back from MA late last night...I came home to check on my animals (as my parents have been looking after them for me) and I found my first red tail...my baby, my Nyoka, had been killed by his female. They have been breeding together over the past 6 months and she's never acted badly towards him. They stay snuggled up and "in action" for the majority of their time.
I have never felt this heartbroken over a reptile (they always break my heart when they pass away as any of the countless rescues that were hopeless beyond repair have)...but Nyoka was my first red tail and the sweetest of sweethearts and one of a kind with a solid stripe connecting his saddles (what they label as a circleback). Beautiful animal.
It shocked me so badly, I could not physically stand on my own two feet. All I could do for over an hour was sit there and sob as I had just lost my best friend, asking whoever would listen, "why Nyoka? Why did it have to be him?" It took me over three hours before I would get up and stop shaking. My hands are still shakey. I just can't believe he's gone. I feel so terrible right now. I was worried as always about my animals while up in MA job hunting....I didn't expect to come home and find my baby, my jewel, belly up and halfway strewn about his water pool where she strangled the life out of him. I can't stop crying about him. I know a lot of people think their animals are JUST animals....mine are my children. Every one of them, regardless of what the market value says about them, are priceless to me. I'll never find another boa like him. He's the first snake I've ever felt this distraught over. He was perfectly healthy, a great feeder and a great friend I hoped to watch grow up. He was only 4' 4" long.
Many people who met him laughed about how comical he was. He actually would rub his chin back and forth on your hand if he wanted a chin rub or if you stopped rubbing his chin. He recognized me by scent and I swear he knew his name.

RIP Cereno Nyoka. March 30, 2002 - June 26th, 2004.
Too short of a life for such a magnificent baby. I love you my sweet boy. I'll miss you terribly.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be morbid. I just have to tell somebody and everybody that knows me.

Hugs,

Amanda Rose

Here is another of many pictures of my beloved baby.
Truly unique in every way.

Hugs,

Amanda Rose

I was wondering what do you think the female did to him, or was he obviously attacked ? I've never see, or heard of boas quallering for any reason.

There was a sizeable bite mark from her about a third of the way down his neck, along with squeezed in areas where she constricted him. Along those same areas, I could feel broken ribs on the squeezed in portions and his back felt broken or very "loose" as well on the spinal region.
I know it is odd. That's why it has shocked me so badly. I just don't understand why she'd up and do this one day. :`(
It's so confusing. I've never had a problem with any of my snakes like this.

Amanda Rose

First of all, let me say that you have my deepest sympathy! And if it will help, I have a little story for you.

When I was about 8 or 9 years old, after much debate with my father, he finaly agreed to allow me to aquire my very first Boa Constrictor. She was a beauty. She was a sweety too, like most boas. I absolutely loved that animal. I would have done anything to protect her from harm. Most of my family thought I was nuts, but they still do, so who cares.LOL Then one summer day, while I had her out, one of the neighbor kids said, "cmon over and play". So Like most 8 or 9 year olds, I ran to put away my snake, so I could go play. The cage was outside on the back walk way, half in the sun, and half in the shade. When I returned several hours later, I found her with her tail pinched in the door, laying in the sun, unable to get to the shady side of the cage, dead. I was absolutely mortified! I could not beleive she was dead. But what's worse is, the fact that my own carelessness was to blame. Can you imagine? To this day, I am extremely cautious when closing any cage!!!

I have been playing with snakes for about 40 years now, and I must tell you that I am as shocked as you are. I have never heard of anything like what happened to you. I guess his mate decided she'd had enough. We think we know all there is to know about our animals, and we think we have them all figured out. But no matter how well we know them, they will always find a way to shock and amaze us. We must always remember that no matter how well we "know" our animals, they do have minds of their own, and inspite of our knowledge of instincts and predictable animal behaviour, they are still capable of making their own choices about what they will do next. We can control everything in their environments, but we cannot control what they do,...and ultimately, what they do, or do not do, is up to them.

I hope I have been able to help in some way. Because beleive it or not, I do know how you feel. And I would not wish that on anyone! If nothing else, I hope it helps you to know that you are not alone, in that respect, and you can e-mail me direct if you like. Even if I cannot fix it, I will be willing to listen. So chin up, cheer up, and remember the good things about your lost freind. And try not to let it get you down, because, even though it's not something we like to think about,...there will be more. We always live longer than they do. Always. Good luck!
Tony.
thesnakeman@centurytel.net

First Please let me say that I am sorry for the loss of your pet. I know people find it hard to accept that we get attached to our reptiles, but we do and it is sad when we lose one.

Oddly enough I have two snakes injured during breeding from a larger female constricting the male. I had a salmon Boa get squeezed tight enough to invert his hemi-penis so badly that it had to be amputated (I still cring at the thought!) He recovered after the surgery and I ended up selling him to a school teacher as a class room pet, with the understanding that he would never be able to breed.

The second one was worse. A male het for albino was breeding to a much larger female het for albino (the males was about 4 feet and the female in over seven) This female broke the back of the male. The male lived for a few months but was paralyzed in the back two thirds of the snake and died several months later.
So it is not too uncommon to have the female get tired of being harrassed by the male and just do him in. I am sure that one day my dear wife will do it to me too LOL, Sorry just trying to use humor to lighten the moment.

I hope you keep on herping and don't let this set back deter you from it.
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Couple of my yearlings. They were in a 4 ft tank with one another. One night I woke up to some banging in the cages. I jumped out of bed to see both of them constricted around one another. I just thank God I was there and heard it. If not, I am sure one of them would have been killed. After that.......I bought some more cages.

I always have been one who enjoys seeing animals together. But, after that......One per cage.
Sorry for your loss.
John
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"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."